Massive storm killed dozens 50 years ago Friday

Columbus Day Storm was worst of the 20th Century

By CASEY MCNERTHNEY, SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF

Published 9:40 pm, Thursday, October 11, 2012

The massive storm is still talked about by those who lived through it.

Fifty years ago Friday, the Columbus Day Storm that battered the West Coast killed dozens of people, set all-time rain records in two major California cities, sent people running from the Seattle World's Fair and brought at least $230 million in damage – roughly equivalent to $1.68 billion today.

It was the Washington's worst weather disaster of the 20th century.

"Hurricane force winds, reaching up to 121 miles an hour in some areas, steamrolled northward with devastating ferocity," the front page of the next day's P-I read. Winds near Fort Lawton – now Discovery Park – hit 83 MPH.

In Portland, part of the Memorial Coliseum roof was blown off and tree limbs cluttered Broadway, the city's main street. Oregon's governor, Mark Hatfield, said it might be the worst catastrophe in the state's history.

The newly built Space Needle rushed to get restaurant patrons down, but two elevator operators were stuck as power was lost – as it was in many parts of Western Washington.

This photo caption from Sept. 28, 1962 read: Splintered carport roof of one-inch planking together with supporting 4 by 8-inch beams lies in backyard of William Gates home, 7308 44th Ave. N.E. first to feel sting of tornado last evening. The roof, surveyed here by Mike Patterson, 13, a neighbor boy, few up and over Gates home to crash landing in backyard.

In this previously unpublished photo, these two rushed from the 1962 World's Fair as the Columbus Day Storm worsened. The pair wasn't identified in the P-I photo notes.

In this previously unpublished photo, these two rushed from the 1962 World's Fair as the Columbus Day Storm worsened. The pair wasn't identified in the P-I photo notes.

Photo: Phil H. Webber/seattlepi.com/MOHAI

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The caption for this Oct. 12, 1962 Columbus Day storm talked about how it graphically showed the record-breaking winds. The winds were record breaking, but the white marks were painted on by a P-I artist. The image is taken outside the P-I building at 6th Avenue and Wall Street.

The caption for this Oct. 12, 1962 Columbus Day storm talked about how it graphically showed the record-breaking winds. The winds were record breaking, but the white marks were painted on by a P-I artist. The

About two weeks before the Columbus Day storm, a tornado hit Seattle on Sept. 27, 1962. It was the first one recorded, according to P-I archive notes. This image was taken of Ivan Thorsos looking at damage about a block from his home at 11673 Holmes Pt. Dr.

About two weeks before the Columbus Day storm, a tornado hit Seattle on Sept. 27, 1962. It was the first one recorded, according to P-I archive notes. This image was taken of Ivan Thorsos looking at damage

The lack of meteorological data in the Pacific Ocean – there were reports from just a few ships and island stations – was a big reason the Northwest was blindsided. Because of the data available today, it's highly unlikely such a huge storm would surprise people as it did in 1962, wrote meteorologist and University of Washington professor Cliff Mass, who gave a detailed talk on the storm Thursday and posted thorough information on his blog,

Since the early 1990s, meteorologists have successfully predicted virtually every windstorm at least a day before, he noted. Mass said winds from the Columbus Day Storm were equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane.

Winds started picking up in Northern California after noon, threatening $40 million in wine grape crops and delaying the sixth game of the World Series at Candlestick Park.

By 4:15 p.m. the weather station in Corvallis, Ore., had to be abandoned because of the dangerous conditions. The peak wind gust was 127 mph, and it was the only time in Pacific Northwest history that a weather station had to be abandoned due to severe weather, Mass noted.

In Seattle, the World's Fair was in its final two weeks, and many visitors were reluctant to leave. But by 9 p.m., security used the public address system to evacuate the site. The monorail was one of the only features operating, used to rush people to their cars downtown.

"In perhaps the understatement of the year," the P-I reported the following day, "the U.S. Weather Bureau at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport said, 'Columbus Day 1962 will long be remembered as the day of the Big Wind.'"